Chapter 19 – Silas
CHAPTER NINETEEN
SILAS
I push my bike across the parking lot, careful not to alert them that I’m leaving. “Did you really think you could leave unnoticed?” Lucian stands before me, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Fuck,” I mutter, my shoulders sagging. I shake my head. “I’m going,” I state.
“We’re all going tomorrow. It was voted and decided,” Lucian counters, his tone sharp and final.
I lift my chin. “I can’t wait that long, and you can’t expect me to. It was my fault that what happened twenty-seven years ago happened. I won’t sit back and allow anything else to happen to her.
“It wasn’t your fault. You saved her,” Lucian argues.
I arch my brow at him. “I saved her. Right.” I nod, my tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Fine, let me put it to you like this. If that was Evelynn in Velmora right now, would you wait?” I press.
His jaw tightens, his expression answering my question for me.
“Exactly what I thought. You and the rest of the club can come tomorrow. I'll need your backup by the time you get there. But I can’t sit back and wait. I just fucking can’t,” I say through gritted teeth.
Lucian’s amber eyes blaze with anger and frustration. But he surprises me and steps aside, allowing me to pass. I blink in surprise. “Why?” I ask because I know him. I know he’s a stubborn asshole.
“Because I have Evelynn. Because if I had made different choices as your president twenty-seven years ago, Lilith wouldn’t have been there with him. She would be here with you,” he admits.
“You weren’t the one to make those decisions. That was all on me,” I remind him.
He shakes his head. “I should have stopped you. I should have…” He pauses, regret flashing across his face. “I should have understood.”
“I knew the code, the laws. I faced the consequences. I don’t hold any grudges,” I assure him.
Lucian gives me a tight nod. “Be safe. Don’t do anything fucking stupid,” he warns, his lips curving into a slight smile.
“I will, and I make no fucking promises,” I state, my grin deepening as I swing my leg over my bike and start her up, pulling off and leaving Lucian and the club in the distance.
The ride is exhausting, only stopping to feed and shield myself from the sun before continuing on my way.
The roads become more treacherous as I get closer, winding around deep mountains and valleys.
I spot the small town just below Velmora, the dark, dominating castle protruding from the mountainside, casting a warning to those who dare to visit.
I follow the road into town and come to a stop at a small bed and breakfast. I swing my leg off my bike, thankful for being undead, because riding that long as a mortal would have been excruciating.
I grab my bag and stride in. The street is dark and silent except for a couple of late-night patrons making their drunken walk home. I approach the reception, where an old, tired-looking woman looks up at me. “You got a room booked?” she asks with annoyance.
“Yes. Tom Smith,” I state as I pull out my thick wad of cash. As I expected, her eyes fixate on the money.
She clears her throat and clicks a few times on her old PC.
“Yes, I see. If we could have your signature and a proof of ID.” She places a clipboard on the ledge for me to sign while turning around to get my room key.
I sign the form—no personal details—and place a hundred dollars on the clipboard before handing it back to her.
“No ID,” I state firmly. She looks from me to the money and spreads a smile across her dry, wrinkly face.
“That won’t be an issue, Mr. Smith.” She takes the clipboard and pockets the money. “Room fifteen, upstairs, down the hall, eighth door on the left.”
I nod, thank her, and make my way up to my room. Once inside, I lock the door and walk over to the window, looking up at Velmora. I pull out my cell and set it on the small table. As I take a seat, my eyes never leave the castle while I wait for her message.
Four hours later, my cell vibrates, I pick it up, and relief floods me as I see it’s her.
L: Just checking in.
S: Tell me something only you would know so I know it’s you.
L: Are you serious?
I quickly reply.
S: When am I not?
L: Fine. New Year’s Eve, I tried to get you to dance with me to Limp Bizkit’s “Nookie.”
I smile at the memory.
S: Fine. It’s you. Message me again in five hours.
L: Why five hours?
S: Because I said so.
She doesn’t respond.
S: Everything okay?
Message undelivered, meaning she’s turned the phone off. I try to think rationally, rather than act in haste and storm the castle. I don’t move from the chair as I settle back and close my eyes, needing to slumber.
I awake hours later to daylight, though clouds block out the sun. I check my cell; no message. It’s been over five hours. I stand and begin pacing back and forth. Dread creeps up my spine. Seconds turn into minutes. Minutes turn into an hour. Still no message, no communication. Nothing.
S: Lilith. Check in.
I click send. And wait. Nothing.
S: Lilith. Let me know you’re okay.
I stare at my phone, willing her to message and praying she will.
Nothing. I move, not wanting to waste another minute.
I grab my blade, sliding it behind the back of my jeans and move silently and quickly through the bed and breakfast. Leaving my bike, I choose to walk, quieter, safer, deadlier.
Within minutes, I’m in front of the main entrance to Velmora, sticking close to the shadows, keeping unseen.
I check my cell one last time before I act. Still nothing.
I send out one text, a vital text. My backup.
S: Something’s wrong. I left my cell in the long grass along the edge of the stone wall. Room 15. Bed and Breakfast in the nearby town. Bikes outside.
I click send, then switch my phone to silent, leaving it on so they can trace it.
I stand straight, push my shoulders back and brace.
There is only one way to get inside and get my brother’s attention.
I walk up to the winding gravelled road to the front entrance.
Standing before the huge doors. I wrap my fist on them three times as hard as I can, the sound echoing all around the mountains that surround us.
Anticipation, anger and dread swirl around my stomach.
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end.
As the door slowly opens, my hand is behind my back, gripping, ready and poised on the blade.
I enter, my eyes darting everywhere, looking for the threat, for him.
For Lilith. A figure moves from the shadows, their body frail, almost dead as they shuffle towards me.
Their eyes were void of any emotion, drool hanging from their mouths.
A Velmora Vessel, nothing could have ever prepared me for seeing one.
“Where is he?” I demand. My voice is firm and void of fear.
They don’t say anything; they simply turn and shuffle ahead through a long corridor.
I reluctantly follow. Never releasing my hold on the dagger.
Eventually, he comes to a stop in front of a pair of double doors and gestures for me to enter.
I hesitantly walk in, and a huge ballroom fills the space.
Black marble flooring; blood-red drapes hang over the tall windows.
Large pillar candles light the dimly lit room, casting a dark gothic ambience.
“Well, well. Brother. To what do I owe the honour?” Morbius greets, stepping out from the shadows.
My blood boils at the sight of him. “Where is she?” I seethe through gritted teeth.
His eyes spark with sadistic amusement. “Ah, of course. You came for her. Why else would you visit me? Your only blood relative.”
“The blood bond we share is the only thing stopping me from destroying you,” I bite back.
He places his hand on his heart. “Aww,” he mocks. “You say the sweetest thing.” He steps closer, placing his hands behind his back. “So, would you like a tour? I’ve worked really hard to get this place up to scratch. The last owners were so. So old-fashioned,” he sighs.
“Enough with the fucking games, Morbius. Where is she?!” I snap, my patience wearing thin.
He cocks his head to the side, assessing me. “You will see her in good time, brother. Don’t you worry. She is safe. Honestly, you’re not the only one who loves her, you know.”
I arch my brow. “After what you fucking did? You still believe that you love her?!” I scoff a cynical laugh.
“I mean, it’s no worse than what you did,” he counters, his words slashing through me like a blade.
I freeze for a second, a second too long as Morbius notices a slow grin spreading across his face.
He leans in closer, and I tense. “A little secret for you.” He holds up his hand. “The Dominion talk,” he whispers.
I grit my jaw tight. Ignoring him. “Where is she?”
“You’re no fun. You used to be fun,” he adds, walking away.
He halts and turns back to face me. “Well, you coming or not?” He gestures.
Without much choice, I follow him, my eyes darting everywhere, anticipating danger.
He leads me through huge double doors into a large room that looks like a library.
Two armchairs sit next to a roaring fire.
Two glasses were placed on the table, filled with blood. He gestures for me to take a seat.
I tense, looking around the room as Morbius sits. “For goodness’ sake, sit down. I can’t kill you, and you can’t kill me.” I sit stiffly, my eyes narrowing on him. “You can stop looking at me like that. You always think the worst of me, brother.”
“I think the worst of you because of what you’ve done,” I hiss.
He picks up his glass and takes a sip, blood coating his lips. He leans his head back, closing his eyes as a light moan vibrates from him. “The 1969 Chateau Margaux really does elevate the blood.”
I don’t touch the blood; he can’t kill me, but I wouldn’t put it past him to hurt or incapacitate me. He notices and rolls his violet eyes. “Brother, you really think I would poison you with this delectable blood?”
I don’t respond,
He huffs, reaches over, and takes a large sip of my blood. “There, happy?” he says, rolling his eyes.
“Where is she?” I hiss.
“She is safe, she has her own room and assistant. You will see her later for dinner,” he says, brushing off an imaginary piece of lint from his clothes. “You arrived earlier than expected, and I wasn’t expecting you alone,” he points out.
“Why?” I cut in.
“Well, because you lot never go far without each other.”
“No!” I snap, cutting him off. “Why take her?” I press.
He takes a sip of his blood before swirling the crimson liquid. “I told you. I love her,” he says without any amusement.
“If you loved her, you wouldn’t have done what you did,” I seethe.
“Ah, now. If you are going to keep saying that, the same could be said for you. How does what you did make it any more righteous than what I did?”
I clamp my mouth shut, and he arches a brow, his lips curving slightly. “Now come on. Enough of hashing out the past, let’s focus on us. Brothers reunited. Mother would be happy.”
“Mother would be turning in her fucking grave if she knew what we had become,” I counter.
He snorts a laugh. “Yes, I suppose you are right, didn’t she get that lady burned at the stake because she thought she was a witch?
” He laughs. “When all she did was figure out the Acmella herb had numbing qualities when chewed. The entire village thought she had poisoned them.” He throws his head back, laughing at the memory.
“Yeah, hilarious, watching a woman getting burned alive for being slightly more intelligent,” I quip.
Morbius rolls his eyes. “Oh, lighten the fuck up, brother.”
“I will lighten up when I have Lilith, and we are leaving this place and you far, far behind,” I state coolly.
Morbius places his palm on his chest. “Ouch. You know words hurt, too.”
I sigh, exasperated. “Enough with the game, Morbius. Tell me what you want with Lilith.” He opens his mouth, but I get in there first. “And I swear to fucking god, if you say it’s because you love her. I will fight the bond and slit your fucking throat; my life be damned.”
“She is special,” he states. “She has the ability to move in time. Able to go back to see her family,” he says with sincerity.
“Stop talking shit, Morbius. I know that’s what you said to lure her here. Knowing she would do anything to see her family again. So cut the shit and tell me the real reason,” I press.
He cocks his head to the side, his violet eyes assessing me. He rolls his eyes and pouts. “You have to ruin it, don’t you?” He laughs, bearing his palms. “Alright, yes, I lied, a small insignificant white lie.”
“It isn’t insignificant to her,” I seethe.
He tuts and shakes his head. “I was hoping we would have longer, but I should have known you’d be so persistent.”
“Longer for what?” I frown.
“Longer to spend time together.” He picks off a piece of lint from his clothes. “You see, I don’t want Lilith.” He pauses for a moment. “Well, that’s not entirely true. I want her. I want her as my queen by my side.”
I ball my hands into tight fists, fury coursing through me at the thought of him claiming her, touching her. My jaw grinds so tight I’m surprised my teeth aren’t crumbling from the pressure.
“It’s you I really want,” he confesses.
The fury seizes in my chest, confusion marring my brow. “What do you want with me, Morbius?”
“You are a liability. A noose around my neck.” He pauses. “The bond, the blood shared between us, ties us,” he says, like it’s something I didn’t already know.
“I know this,” I grit out, tired of him skirting around the facts.
“But I bet you didn’t know if you die, I die,” he adds.
My eyes widen, and my brow arches in disbelief. “If you die, I die?”
He shakes his head back and forth. “No, that isn’t what I said.” He pauses. “If you die, I die.”
“Why would the bond only tie your life to mine and not the other way around?” I ask with confusion. Surely it would tie our lives both ways.
Morbius sits back, looking to the roaring fire, his jaw tense.
“Because I tried to sever the bond.” His violet eyes pin me.
“I wanted you dead. I wanted to kill you with my own bare hands. I still do. Well…” His gaze flickers to mine.
“Not all the time, maybe eighty per cent of the time,” he admits.
“Anyway, in trying to sever the bond, it backfired and cursed me. And now, you are the target on my back. You are my weakness that I cannot and will not allow to roam free. This whole thing was never about Lilith. It always has been about you. About you.”